Casey Childs was born in 1974 in Powell, Wyoming, and grew up with a deep desire to understand the people around him. He earned an A.A. from Northwest College, where he studied under John Giarrizzo, who instilled in him a great love of art. He then completed a B.A. at Brigham Young University and later apprenticed with William Whitaker in Provo, Utah.
His work as a whole encompasses an exploration of the human experience, and he strives to capture the beauty, variations, and complexities of the human form. He is inspired by the figurative works of Sargent, Fechin, Thayer, Caravaggio, and his mentor John Giarrizzo. He sees his work as a self-portrait in that the subjects of his paintings are all a part of him.
His portrait work aims to capture the soul of the individual, not just their likeness. He believes that we look at people every day but never really stop to see them. Each painting is a learning experience and an exploration of himself as an artist.
“My work as a whole encompasses an exploration of the human experience. My interest in the people around me comes from the idea that we look at people every day, but we never really stop to SEE them.”
His work has been exhibited widely, including solo exhibitions at Principle Gallery in Alexandria and Springville Museum of Art. He has also participated in the Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition, where he won Second Place in Painting in 2016 and First Place in Drawing in 2015. He has recieved numerous awards, including the Art Renewal Center Realism Award of Excellence.
His work has been featured in American Art Collector, Southwest Art, and International Artist magazines. He has also created historical narrative paintings, including a diptych depicting the death of Joseph Smith. He continues to paint and exhibit his work, exploring the depths of human emotion and experience.
Q: What defines Casey Childs’s figurative style?
A: His deep exploration of the human experience, capturing not just likeness but the soul of his subjects. He is inspired by the Old Masters and his mentor John Giarrizzo, and his work is characterized by a focus on beauty, variation, and the complexities of the human form. He sees each painting as a self-portrait and a learning experience.